Prefix+Serial Numbers of Date changes
in Current Sri Lanka BankNotes
Unlike in the past, the Central Bank (CBSL) since early 2017 has not
published
the range of Prefix+Serial numbers for each denomination and issue
date on Banknote. After the Single Note Inspection Machine (SNIM) was
adopted and replacement notes were discontinued in early 2017, the
notes are also no longer issued in Sequence of Prefix+Serial Number.
RTI requests to CBSL have yielded incomplete and sometimes misleading information.
The Rs100 note with signatures of Ravi Karunanayake and Indrajit
Coomaraswamy dated 2016-07-04 were the first banknotes subject to SNIM
which were released to public. I collected from circulation, one Rs100
Banknotes of every prefix from U/471 to U/588 as I found them.
The first saw I found was U/576. Unlike previously when they were
issued in order of prefix, after SNIM, the Bricks of Banknotes were
being issued from CBSL in a random prefix order as the stock is now
controlled by a computerized database.
The new SNIM inspected and packed in Brick of 1000 Banknotes are
shrink wrapped including a band that had a CBSL logo and a bar-code.
The Bar-Code is a direct reference to the CBSL Banknote database which
will indicate what serial numbers are included in each of the 10 packs
of 100 notes included in the brick. Previously notes were stacked and
issued carefully in the Serial Number order, since that was the only
way they could book keep properly. Now all is handled by automated
Cash Management software which will be able to say from the Bar-code
on the Brick, the serial numbers contained in it, and on what day it
was issued, to which bank. So there is no-longer the need to keep
careful track of the order in which banknotes are stacked or issued.
Change over from one date to a new date and signature pair could occur
midway of a single prefix. Collectors had to work that out by tracking
the Prefix+Serial Numbers on the Banknotes, with the date and
Signatures on them till the changes prefix and serial was obtained by
me from CBSL via RTI.
Notes with the same Prefix and different Dates and Signature pairs are
becoming regular with the introduction of SNIM and no Replacements.
As listed in table below they are also interesting collectibles for the Specialist.
On top of each column is the new date of the start Serial listed below.
This was rare in older series, but Johann Dekker did show me such a collection.
Try to get as close as possible to the change over Serial Number from both sides.
A good replacement for those missing collecting rare replacements !!
| Value | 1992-07-01 | 1994-08-19 | 1995-11-15 | 2001-12-12 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-07-01 | 2005-11-19 | 2006-07-03
|
| Rs 10 | M/17 190K | M/78 190K | M/147 190K | M/267 190K | M/347 190K | M/387 190K | M/462 515K | M/552 515K
|
| Rs 20 | L/20 500K | L/35 500K | L/41 500K | L/181 500K | --- | L/261 500K | L/301 921K | L/366 921K
|
| Rs 50 | K/6 | K/43 | K/60 | K/155 | K/190 | K/220 | K/245 192K | K/280 192K
|
| Rs 100 | J/16 | --- | J/126 | J/236 | --- | J/236 | J/391 250K | J/531 250K
|
| Rs 500 | H/21 | --- | H/37 | H/72 | H/87 | H/97 | H/112 151K | ---
|
| Rs1000 | G/5 | --- | G/31 | G/106 | G/131 | G/156 | --- | G/186 650K
|
| Rs2000 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | P/31
|
| Value | 2015-02-04 | 2016-07-04 | 2017-05-22 | 2019-01-28 | 2019-12-24 | 2020-08-12 | 2021-09-15 | 2022-07-04
|
| Rs 20 | W/281 | W/411 | W/496 | --- | W/579 | W/611 400K | W/644 880K | W/725 000K
|
| Rs 50 | V/141 | V/161 | V/266 | --- | V/293 500K | V/309 592K | V/327 817K | V/371 000K
|
| Rs 100 | U/316 | U/471 | U/588 200K | U/707 750K | U/724 250K | U/762 050K | U/826 760K | U/913 000K
|
| Rs 500 | T/116 | T/131 | T/207 779K | T/268 280K | --- | T/323 280K | T/334 531K | T/367 000K
|
| Rs1000 | S/196 | S/323 | --- | S/351 | S/433 | S/482 825K | --- | S/511 000K
|
| Rs5000 | R/41 | R/91 | R/121 | R/153 860K | R/192 580K | R/230 692K | R/279 778K | R/318 000K
|
You too can Help
Please look at the Prefix of BankNotes in your collection and when as
they pass through your hands in circulation.
Please report with Prefix+Serial number and Date,
IF Prefix+Serial number are within ranges requested below,
particularly to narrow the current separation to record when Date
changes, how close to the changeover Prefix+Serial as specified by
CBSL via RTI was seen in circulation. Thanks.
Of the current 2010 Series in circulation till 2016-07-04 the
boundaries were at prefix end. From 2020-08-12 all of the Boundaries were
in the middle of the prefix, and the same prefix would have two dates
and signature pairs which are a popular collectible among some banknote
collectors. If the boundary is at prefix end, look 100K on either side.
If boundary is in middle of a prefix, look from Start to End of that prefix.
Aim here is to record banknotes as close to the boundary as reported.
This page http://notes.lakdiva.org.lk/serial.html was updated with
information of Notes seen in Circulation and have/Reported till 2024 January 18th.
- Rs 20 notes
seeking highest prefix in Circulation.
Currently reported W/731(2022-07-04) end expected at W/788 450K
If you find an Rs20 note with Prefix+Serial between
- Rs 20 change over at W/725 000K
W/724 001K(2021-09-15) and W/725 999K(2022-07-04) separation of 750+250K.
- Rs 20 change over at W/644 880K
W/644 179K(2020-08-12) and W/644 999K(2021-09-15) separation of 700+120K.
- Rs 20 change over at W/611 400K.
W/611 267(2019-12-24) and W/611 443K(2020-08-12) separation of 133+43K.
- Rs 20 change over at W/579 000K.
W/578 900K(2017-05-22) and W/579 006K(2019-12-24) separation of 100+6K.
- Rs 20 change over at W/496 000K.
W/495 980K(2016-07-04) and W/496 045K(2017-05-22) separation of 20+45K.
- Rs 50 notes
seeking highest prefix in Circulation.
Currently have V/379(2022-07-04) end expected at V/407 990K
If you find an Rs50 note with Prefix+Serial between
- Rs 50 change over at V/371 000K.
V/370 000K(2021-09-15) and V/371 999K(2022-07-04) separation of 748+252K.
- Rs 50 change over at V/327 817K.
V/327 608K(2020-08-12) and V/327 999K(2021-09-15) separation of 209+183K.
- Rs 50 change over at V/309 592K.
V/309 000K(2019-12-24) and V/309 967K(2020-08-12) separation of 592+375K.
- Rs 50 change over at V/293 500K.
V/293 345K(2017-06-22) and V/293 504K(2019-12-24) separation of 155+4K.
- Rs 50 change over at V/266 000K.
V/265 896K(2016-07-04) and V/266 267K(2017-05-22) separation of 104+267K.
- Rs 100 notes
seeking highest prefix in Circulation.
Currently, have U/914(2022-07-04) end expected at U/981 895K
If you find an Rs100 note with Prefix+Serial between
- Rs 100 change over at U/913 000K.
U/913 000K(2021-09-15) and U/912 999K(2022-07-04) separation of 935+65K.
- Rs 100 change over at U/826 760K.
U/826 000K(2020-08-12) and U/826 999K(2021-09-15) separation of 760+240K.
- Rs 100 change over at U/762 050K.
U/762 026K(2019-12-24) and U/762 078K(2020-08-12) separation of 24+28K.
- Rs100 change over at U/724 250K.
U/724 000K(2019-01-28) and U/724 999K(2019-12-24) separation of 250+750K.
- Rs100 change over at U/707 750K.
U/707 000K(2017-05-22) and U/707 999K(2019-01-28) separation of 750+250K.
- Rs100 change over at U/588 200K.
U/588 100K(2016-07-04) and U/588 214K(2017-05-22) separation of 100+14K.
- Rs100 change over at U/471 000K.
U/470 900K(2015-02-04) and U/471 100K(2016-07-04) separation of 100+100K.
- Rs 500 notes
seeking highest prefix in Circulation.
Currently, have T/391(2022-07-04) end expected at T/398 836K
If you find an Rs500 note with Prefix+Serial between
- Rs500 change over at T/366 705K.
T/366 001K(2021-09-15) and T/367 999K(2022-07-04) separation of 705+295K.
- Rs500 change over at T/334 531K.
T/334 001K(2020-08-12) and T/334 999K(2021-09-15) separation of 531+469K.
- Rs500 change over at T/323 280K.
T/323 000K(2019-01-28) and T/323 999K(2020-08-12) separation of 280+720K.
- Rs500 change over at T/268 280K
T/268 000K(2017-05-22) and T/268 348K(2019-01-28) separation of 280+68K.
- Rs500 change over at T/207 779K.
T/207 709K(2016-07-04) and T/207 843K(2017-05-22) separation of 70+64K.
- Rs500 change over at T/186 to SNIM has same Signatures.
- Rs1000 notes
Seeking highest Rs1000 prefix in Circulation.
Currently, have S/513(2022-07-04) end expected at S/521 800K
If you find an Rs1000 note with Prefix+Serial between
- Rs1000 change over at S/511 000K.
S/509 006K(2020-08-12) and S/511 999K(2022-07-04) separation of 999+993K.
- Rs1000 change over at S/482 825K.
S/482 000K(2019-12-24) and S/482 999K(2020-08-12) separation of 825+175K.
- Rs1000 change over at S/434 000K.
S/433 900K(2019-01-28) and S/434 100K(2019-12-24) separation of 100+100K.
- Rs1000 change over at S/351 000K.
S/350 941K(2016-07-04) and S/351 133K(2019-01-28) separation of 59+133K.
- Rs5000 notes
Seeking highest prefix in Circulation.
Currently, have R/282(2021-09-15) end expected at R/317 090K
If you find a Rs5000 note with Prefix+Serial between
- Rs5000 change over at R/279 778K.
R/279 127K(2020-08-12) and R/279 999K(2021-09-15) separation of 651K+222K.
- Rs5000 change over at R/230 692K.
R/230 553K(2019-12-24) and R/230 999K(2020-08-12) separation of 139K+308K.
- Rs5000 change over at R/192 580K.
R/192 000K(2019-01-28) and R/192 999K(2019-12-24) separation of 580+420K.
- Rs5000 change over at R/153 860K.
R/153 759K(2017-05-22) and R/153 862K(2019-01-28) separation of 101+2K.
- Rs5000 change over at R/121 000K.
R/120 900K(2016-07-04) and R/121 100K(2017-05-22) separation of 100+100K.
- 2010-01-01 Mahinda Rajapaksa & Ajith Nivard Cabraal
- 2015-02-04 Ravi Karunanayake & A. Mahendran
- 2016-07-04 Ravi Karunanayake & I. Coomaraswamy
- 2017-05-22 Mangala Samaraweera & I. Coomaraswamy
- 2019-01-28 Mangala Samaraweera & I. Coomaraswamy
- 2019-12-24 Mahinda Rajapaksa & W. D. Lakshman
- 2020-08-12 Mahinda Rajapaksa & W. D. Lakshman
- 2021-09-15 Basil Rajapaksa & Ajith Nivard Cabraal
- 2022-07-04 Ranil Wickremesinghe & Nandalal Weerasinghe
Comments
- The highest Serial Prefix seen in cash in circulation gives
minimum number of BankNotes that have been printed for a current
denomination and date.
There could be much more printed and not yet released by CBSL.
- Denomination Rs 1000 was not issued with date 2017-05-22.
- Denomination Rs 20 and Rs 50 were not issued with date 2019-01-28.
- Denomination Rs 500 was not issued with date 2019-12-24.
- Denomination Rs 1000 will not probably be issued with date 2021-09-15.
- Reply to RTI 0001/2020, 0078/2021 and 0028/2022 gave the change
over Serial Numbers listed above.
- Although we now have from RTI the change over serial number, it is
interesting to see how close to the change over serial number one can
find notes in circulation. The difference less than(x) and
more than(y) change over serial is given above
as x+yK
- In 2022 May, RTI 0028/2022 confirmed that 2022 notes for order
with signatures of Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse and reappointed
Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal are still being printed. When notes with
Dual Citizen Basil Rajapakse are issued, it will be the first since
1952-06-09 to have signature of a US-citizen.
Currently, I acknowledge many reports from Wassim Sattar, Priyadarshan
Ravi Ratnapala, Harry Gunawardane, Hemal Chandarratne, Selliah
Jackson, and hope to get more.
Please join us and contribute if you can help.
I also thank the patience of the Tellers of HSBC Wellawaththa Branch for
changing my circulated currency for me to check prefix before depositing.
I also thank the officials of CBSL currency department for sending me the
information requested by RTI 0001/2020, 0078/2021 and 0028/2022.
Email me at kavanr @ gmail.com or SMS me at 0775419494 or 0717072020
or WhatsApp images at +94712537551
Part of notes.lakdiva.org.lk a website for
Banknotes of Ceylon and Sri Lanka since 1785.